Bhubaneswar: A Special Vigilance Court in Bargarh on Wednesday sentenced Santanu Naik, Liasoning Assistant of Ashoka Buildcon in Bargarh, to three years of rigorous imprisonment(RI) for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹30,000 from a landowner.
Naik was also directed to pay a fine of ₹10,000 by the court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bargarh.
Naik had earlier been chargesheeted by Odisha Vigilance under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) and Sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. According to Vigilance officials, he colluded with a public servant to demand illegal gratification from a landowner in exchange for enhancing compensation related to land acquisition.
Following a detailed investigation and submission of evidence, the court held Naik guilty and pronounced the sentence on December 3, marking another significant conviction for Odisha Vigilance in its efforts to curb corruption in land acquisition processes.
